It's interesting to step back from myself, and try to figure out the stew of emotions I'm in. I feel like I've completed this tremendous ordeal, or I've been granted some fundamental reprieve. Very emotional, very odd - perhaps because it's an ending, with several different closures.
The team at the office all chipped in together and bought me a Northern Ireland IFA jersey - way cool, unexpected, and very thoughtful. I was made to promise that I would refer to it as a real football jersey, which I'm happy to do. I think it'll make a great tennis shirt too.
Now, the suitcase story. When Ginger and the boys went home, they left me with one big wheeled duffel. That would have been fine if it was really just my clothes - after all, that's what I had when I came over. A lot of crap accumulated here in six months, including stuff we thought we'd use but didn't, and I'd been girding myself for throwing or giving it away. But a few weeks ago, taking the trash out, I found a very large suitcase at the dumpster. It had one handle broken but rolled fine, so I dragged it inside to give it a closer look. Inside were shoes (no, not a torso) - seven or eight pairs. Those went back to the dumpster, and the suitcase dried out downstairs.
I'm finally to the point of packing, and started loading them up. The suitcase proved bigger than the duffel, which is good, because I've filled them both up. I don't understand it either, but there you go, and I think only one bag is overweight. The only things left to pack are two days of clothes and bathroom supplies. Oh, and the router - obviously the last thing to go.
Tomorrow: vacuum, give the kitchen one last cleaning, and head out. The original plan was to try to get down to Dublin in time to see some sights, but it looks like rain all day. So the new plan is to hit the Crown for a bowl of stew and a pint, turn the car in, catch the 12:30 bus, and get to Dublin about 3:00. After that I'm at all kinds of loose ends - here's hoping the movies are good on TV.
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